Now, it’s no secret that actors for movies and shows have perfect skin. But just how do they get their skin so nice and even? Well, the answer lies in their skincare routine. Actors dip their face in a bowl of ice water in the morning before they “break a leg” on set. The ice water vastly reduces puffiness and redness in the skin by constricting blood vessels, (It’s not as bad as it sounds.) which reduces blood flow to your facial area, therefore reducing swelling and inflammation.

What about acne and pimples? Right, actors don’t have that either. While ice water dips do help reduce acne, it doesn’t do it as good as specialized name-brand facial soaps. It reduces acne the same way it reduces redness, by tightening the blood vessels. Another way it reduces acne is by tightening pores. It makes the skin tighter, which prevents dirty air molecules from entering and causing bacteria buildup. Ice water dips also reduce oil production by constricting the sebaceous glands, which produce the skin oils that are also a cause of acne.

Though it sounds controversial, by constricting blood vessels, ice water actually boosts blood flow. That increased blood flow brings oxygen to the face, resulting in what people occasionally call “glowing skin.” It does this by distributing oxygen throughout the face and evening out skin tones across the whole face.

Another thing people commonly wonder is reverse aging. Is it true? How could it be? Well, the increased oxygenated blood flow increases elasticity in the skin. The elasticity boost smoothens your skin while preventing sagging. Skin elasticity is determined by two proteins naturally found in the skin, collagen and elastin. When the skin has high elasticity, it looks tighter and reduces wrinkles, hence the younger, more youthful look.

As you can see, there are many benefits to doing an ice water facial dip, including reduction of puffiness, less acne, glowing skin, and reverse aging. Remember to do the dips in moderation, as excessive amounts can damage your skin’s barrier. So if you’re one of those people searching for better skin or one of those people trying to look like a romcom actor, ice water dips are the way to go.